A licensing meeting due to be held today (Thursday) to consider a proposal to adopt a procedure for licensing Horse Drawn Carriages, drivers and conductors to operate within the county was postponed.

The meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s ‘Licensing Committee’ scheduled to be held at County Hall, was postponed due to issues raised that require further clarification prior to being re-submitted to a future meeting.

Committee members were required to consider a report from the Authority’s director of development, Dr. Steven Jones, whether the Council should adopt a licensing procedure in connection with Horse Drawn Omnibuses and if so to delegate authority for the preparation of the procedure to the Head of Public Protection.

With the Town Police Clauses Act 1889 and the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 regulating the licensing of Omnibuses, the relevant legislation does not provide a clear route for conditions to be attached to such licences.

However section 6 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1889 provides the mechanism for the Council to make Byelaws to regulate the operation of Horse-drawn omnibus services.

The only one horse-drawn carriage currently operating in Pembrokeshire, is in Tenby.

Following the meeting of the full council on December 14 the decision was made to implement a licensing regime for Horse Drawn Omnibuses with byelaws, following consultations that took place over the summer, with Clr. Michael Williams, who represents the Tenby North ward, amongst those giving their backing to support the recommendation.

The drivers of Horse Drawn Omnibus will be required to apply to the Licensing

Authority for a licence, who will need to be satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a omnibus driver’s licence and will require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate to be renewed every three years and to extend the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

In addition the driver will need to hold a relevant qualification issued by the British Horse Society or an organisation listed in the Code of Practice for Horse Drawn Vehicles issued by the Department for Transport, showing that they are competent to drive the carriage and that the drivers has held a full DVLA driver’s licence for a minimum of twelve months.

Conductors of a horse drawn omnibus will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS certificate. Fares and fees will also be determined by the byelaw

It has been recommended to the Licensing Committee to delegate authority for the preparation of the procedure to the Head of Public Protection for the licensing of Horse Drawn Omnibuses and Drivers within the County of Pembrokeshire, together with the power to grant, revoke, suspend or refuse to transfer or renew an omnibus vehicle licence, driver and conductors licence to the Director of Development, and to agree to the proposed fees.

Following a 28 day consultation period, a report is to be presented to Cabinet for full approval of the fees.